Since its inception in 2009, the Nepal National Water and Weather Week (NNWWW) has successfully marked a decade on the environmental calendar. The weeklong event (March 17– 23), basically highlights two of the most important days celebrated worldwide, namely World Water Day (March 22) and World Meteorological Day(March 23). World Water Day is celebrated every year on 22nd of March by the people all across the world. It was first officially added in the schedule 21 of the year 1992 “United Nations Conference on Environment and Development” in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. However, the celebration started from the year 1993 to motivate the general public and get their support in water conservation by avoiding the use of their taps for whole day. Similarly, the United Nations (UN) World Meteorological Day is celebrated on March 23 annually, to honor the establishment of World Meteorological Organization in 1950.
The theme designated for the World Water Day 2018 is “Nature for Water”, which intends on exploring nature based solutions to the water challenges we face today. World Water Day 2018 ’Nature for Water’ will showcase the potential of nature-based solutions for water and how they can be considered for water management policy and practice. Nature-based solutions play a crucial in solving many of our water challenges. It takes into accountthe efforts put by individuals to harmonize ‘green’ infrastructure with ‘grey’ infrastructure wherever possible.This can be achieved by planting new forests, reconnecting rivers to floodplains and restoring wetlands which will rebalance the water cycle and improve human health and livelihoods.
The theme for World Meteorological Day 2018 is “Weather Ready, Climate Smart”, that requires decision makers to build societal resilience in the face of weather extremes and a changing climate. People everywhere can benefit from an integrated approach that combines timely and user-friendly forecasts with effective warning systems and enhanced preparedness. Our weather and climate services must also respond to new human vulnerabilities resulting from mass migration, the expansion of megacities and other socio-economic trends of the 21st century.
More than 50 organizations including governmental agencies, I/NGOs, private sectors, academia, media houseshave been organizing week-long programs since 2009 under an umbrella network of Nepal National Water and Weather Week to commemorate these two very special days. The consortium is chaired by the Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS), the Government of Nepal. The event is a common platform to share and discussthe various issues related to water and weather and come up with some policy resolutions. With this context, aweek-long program from 17 March to 23 March, 2018 under the title “Nepal National Water and Weather Week -2018 (NNWWW-2018)” has been proposed this year too. The event provides a fruitful opportunity for participants to discuss sensitive issues, exchange ideas
List of Proposed Activities for National Water and Weather Week(NNWWW)2018
Activities before Water and Weather Week
| Date | Program/Activities | Responsibility |
| February 15 onwards | Photo and video competition on the theme ‘Nature for water’ | NNWWW |
| First week of March | Painting competition for school student | NNWWW |
| March 15 (Thursday) | Press meet and press release | NNWWW |
Activities on water and weather week
| Date | Programs/Activities | Coordinated by |
| 17 March (Saturday) | Inauguration of NNWWW 2018
Walkathon (Prabhatpheri) Walk for water |
NNWWW
DHM/SOHAM/CDHM/DOM/SOM WaterAid Nepal/NNWW |
| 18 March (Sunday) | (National Hydro-Metrological Exhibition -2018) | SOM/NNWWW |
| 20 March
(Tuesday) |
Ninth National Groundwater Symposium
Irrigation Seminar Workshop on Water Resources Management and Climate Change in Kathmandu Valley |
SEN/CREEW/ENPHO/
GWRDB/KVWSMB DoI Ministry of Education/UNESCO Hydrology |
| 21 March
(Wednesday) |
SDG Confab: Reviewing Status and Synergize Effort on Nepal’s
Sustainable Development Goals on SDG-6 and SDG-13 |
NNWWW/WaterAid
Nepal |
| 22 March
(Thursday) |
Thematic workshop by WECS: “Management of Water Resources in
Federal System in Nepal” Model United Nations (MUN) |
WECS/NNWWW/ |
| 23 March
(Friday) |
National Symposium on Hydrology and Meteorology-2018 to
celebrate World Meteorological Day 2018 Formal closing session of NNWWW 2018 |
DHM/DHM Regional
Offices/SOHAM/SEN NNWWW |
Annex I: List of participating organization (2009 till date)
| S. N | Organization |
| 1 | ADAPT Nepal |
| 2 | Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) |
| 3 | Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) |
| 4 | CARE Nepal |
| 5 | Cemat Water Lab Private Limited (CEMAT) |
| 6 | Center of Research for Environment Energy and Water (CREEW) |
| 7 | Central Department of Environmental Science (CDES, Tribhuwan University) |
| 8 | Central Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (CDHM, Tribhuwan University) |
| 9 | Clean Energy Nepal (CEN) |
| 10 | Cycle City Network Nepal (CCNN) |
| 11 | Department of Agriculture |
| 12 | Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) |
| 13 | Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) |
| 14 | Department of Irrigation (DoI)) |
| 15 | Department of Meteorology, Tri-Chandra Multiple Campus |
| 16 | Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) |
| 17 | Department of Water Induced Disaster Prevention (DWIDP) |
| 18 | Department of Water Supply and Sewerage (DWSS) |
| 19 | Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO) |
| 20 | GIZ |
| 21 | Guthi |
| 22 | High Powered Committee for Integrated Development of the Bagmati Civilization (HPCIDBC) |
| 23 | Himal Power Limited (HPL) |
| 24 | Independent Power Producer’s Association Nepal (IPPAN) |
| 25 | International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) |
| 26 | International Hydrological Program – Nepal (IHP-Nepal) |
| 27 | International Water Management Institute (IWMI) |
| 28 | JalsrotVikasSanstha Nepal/Nepal Water Partnership (JVS/NWP) |
| 29 | Kathmandu Metropolitan City(KMC) |
| 30 | Kathmandu UpatyakaKhanepani Limited (KUKL) |
| 31 | Kathmandu Valley Water Supply Management Board (KVWSMB) |
| 32 | Melamchi Water Supply Development Board (MWSDB) |
| 33 | Ministry of Energy (MoEn) |
| 34 | Ministry of Irrigation (MoIr) |
| 35 | Ministry of Physical Planning and Works (MoPPW) |
| 36 | Ministry of Population and Environment |
| 37 | Ministry of Urban Development |
| 38 | Nepal Development Research Institute (NDRI) |
| 39 | National Lakes Conservation Development Committee (NLCDC) |
| 40 | National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) |
| 41 | Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) |
| 42 | Nepal Engineers Association (NEA) |
| 43 | Nepal Mega College |
| 44 | Nepal National Community on Irrigation and Drainage |
| 45 | Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) |
| 46 | NGO Forum for Urban Water and Sanitation (NGO Forum) |
| 47 | One Planet Solution /Smart Pani |
| 48 | Practical Action Nepal |
| 49 | Renewable World |
| 50 | Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Fund Development Board (RWSSFDB) |
| 51 | Siddhartha Bank Limited, Shankamul Branch |
| 52 | SNV Nepal |
| 53 | Society for Environment and Economic Development – Nepal |
| 54 | Society of Hydrologists and Meteorologists -(SOHAM-Nepal) |
| 55 | Society of Irrigation Engineers Nepal (SIREN) |
| 56 | Society of Public Health Engineers Nepal (SOPHEN) |
| 57 | South Asia Institute of Advanced Studies(SIAS) |
| 58 | Student’s Organization of Meteorology |
| 59 | Siddhartha Vanasthali Institute |
| 60 | Thames International College |
| 61 | The Small Earth Nepal(SEN) |
| 62 | United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) |
| 63 | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) |
| 64 | United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) |
| 65 | United Nations World Food Program (UNWFP) |
| 66 | Water Aid Nepal |
| 67 | Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS) |
| 68 | World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF- Nepal) |